Universal ball joint



Feb. 22, 1944.

R. K. GODDARD UNIVERSAL BALL JOINT Filed Oct. 27, 1943 INVENTOR.

BY Z a z arr-014w: Y8

Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL BALL JDINTRalph King Goddard, Springfield, Mass.

Application October 27, 1943, Serial No. 507,838

4 Claims.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a universalball joint, and the invention aims to provide novel means for connectingthe constituent parts of the article for relative movement, novel meansbeing supplied for preventing the ears of the shaft members fromspreading under load, and the structure possessing great strength andbeing capable of withstanding hard use.

It is Within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows, in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation wherein parts are broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation wherein parts are broken away, the showing inFig. 3 being at right angles to the showing in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view disclosing one of the shaft members;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the coupler;

Fig. 7 is a composite perspective view wherein the pivot mechanismappears.

In carrying out the invention, there are provided like shaft members I,the word shaft being used as a convenient name for the parts specified,and imposing no limitation as to use.

The shaft members I are supplied with longitudinally projecting ears 2,having concentric, transverse openings 3. Each shaft member I has aconcaved, spherical end surface 4, disposed between the ears 2.

At their inner sides, the ears 2 have longitudinally projecting flanges5, which are prolonged upon the outer, longitudinal edges, of the ears.The terminal surfaces of the ears 2 and of the flanges 5 are convexedupon a radius of which the axis of the openings 3 is the origin.

A coupler 6 is provided, and includes an intermediate body I, andtransverse heads 8 at opposite ends of the body, the heads projectinglaterally, at right angles to each other. The body I is of rectangularcross-section. The heads have flat, parallel outer surfaces '9, merginginto the corresponding surfaces ID of the body 'I.

The body I and the heads 8 of the coupler 6 fit closely between the ears2 of the shaft memhers I, the heads 8 being provided with outer,spherical surfaces II, which engage the respective spherical surfaces 4of the shaft members I.

The laterally projecting, inner surfaces of the heads ii are providedwith convexed, transverse recesses 12, located immediately adjacent'tothe body I of the coupler 6, and receiving the flanges 5 on the shaftmembers I, for rocking movement. This feature is of importance, since itprevents the ears 2 from spreading under load.

The body 'I on the coupler 5 is equipped with transverse openings M,located at right angles to each other, one of the openings I4registering with the openings 3 in the ears 2 of one shaft member I, andthe other of the openings I4 registering with the corresponding openings3 in the ears of the other shaft member.

Pivot mechanism is provided for uniting the shaft members I, forswinging movement in planes at right angles to each other.

The pivot mechanism is shown in Fig. 7, and comprises a first pivotelement I5, of circular cross-section, and having a reduced and fiatintermediate neck I5, provided midway between its ends with a smoothhole IT. The reduced neck It affords rectangular seats 58 in oppositesides of the first pivot element I5.

The first pivot element I5 is inserted through the openings 3 in theears 2 of one shaft member I, and through one of the openings I4 in thecoupler 6.

The other of the openings i4, and the openings 3 in the ears 2 of theother shaft member receive a second pivot means, next to be described.

The second pivot means not only permits swinging movement of the shaftmember I wherein it is mounted, but, as well, constitutes a retainer forthe first pivot element I5.

The second pivot means comprises combined retainers and pivot pins I9and 29, having flattened tips 2|, the tips being received in the seatsI8 of the first pivot element I5, and, therefore, holding the firstpivot element against endwise removal, provided that the pins themselvesare held releasably against endwise removal.

The pivot pin I9 has a longitudinal threaded bor 22, and the pivot pin20 is provided with a smooth longitudinal bore 23, having an enlargement24 at its outer end.

The pivot members [9 and 20 are connected by a joining element, such asan Allen screw 25, the head 26 of the screw being received in theenlargement 24 f the bore 23 in the pivot pin 20, The screw 25 passesthrough the hole I! in neck l6 of the first pivot element I5, and isthreaded into the bore 22 of the pivot element I9, the inner endsurfaces of the tips 2| of the pivot pins [9 and 20 being bound againstopposed surfaces of the neck l6 of the pivot element l5.

Reverting to the ears 2 of the shaft members I, it will be noted thatthe rounded ends of the ears, as distinguished from the rounded ends ofthe flanges 5, are mounted to rock in concavities 21 in the innersurfaces of the heads 8 of the coupler G, the recesses l2 (which receivethe flanges) being formed in the bases of the concavities 21. The deviceforming the subject matter of this application possesses the advantagesof a ball universal joint, together with means for preventing an outwardspringing of the ears 2 of the shaft members I, under load, novel meansbeing supplied for pivotally assembling the shaft members l with thecoupler 6. The device possesses strength and compactness, and interposesno obstacle to a ready assembly and a ready taking down.

What is claimed is:

1. In a universal joint, shaft members having longitudinally projectingears at their inner ends and provided with transverse spherical,concaved surfaces disposed between the ears, a coupler havingtransverse, terminal heads disposed at right angles to each other andlocated between the ears and having spherical end surfaces engaging thespherical surfaces of the shaft members, a transverse pivot meansextended through the coupler and engaging the ears of one shaft memher,and a transverse pivot means extended through the coupler and throughthe first specified pivot means, and engaging the ears of the othershaft member.

2. A universal joint constructed as set forth in claim 1, and whereinthe inner surfaces of the heads are provided with transverse recesses,the inner ends of the arms having transverse, projecting flangesreceived in the recesses and constituting means for preventing the earsof each shaft member from spreading apart.

3. In a universal joint, shaft members having longitudinally projectingears at their inner ends, a coupler extended between the ears of eachshaft member, a first pivot member connecting the coupler with the earsof one shaft member and having oppositely disposed seats, second pivotmembers mounted in the ears of the other, shaft member and disposedcoaxially with respect to each other and at right angles to the firstpivot member and having their inner ends received in the seats, to holdthe first pivot member in place, and a releasable connection between thesecond pivot members.

4. A universal joint constructed as set forth in claim 3 and wherein thereleasable connection is a draw-screw extended through the first pivotmember, within the seats, the screw extending through one of the secondpivot members and having a head engaging that pivot member, the screwbeing threaded into the other of the second pivot members and bindingthe inner ends of the second pivot members against the first pivotmember, within the seats.

RALPH KING GODDARD.

